My 97 Disco, with 5k on a rebuilt longblock started running rough and died, just like a clogged fuel filter. I threw in a new one but when it got warm, it acted up again. No OBD codes come up. It will start and idle forever but once it's warm, it will die if you just barely push in the clutch, but only when idling. 2 shops have given up on it. Fuel pressure is good and nothing unusual comes up on a computer diagnostic. So, runs great for about 10 minutes or until it gets warm, then forget it. Smells like it is running rich but again, no engine faults come up. I'm ordering new injectors but I don't think that will fix it, it has the injectors from the original engine. Ideas I have, solutions I don't. Sound familiar to anybody?

 

No such thing as a 97' Disco manual trans in the States. Unless it's a grey market car ?

 

Let's assume that there are plenty of manual transmission 97 Discos out there, and there are, and go from there, ok?

 

Andy
I assume its a petrol engined V8, in which case there are at least two things you need to check, the temperature sensor should be checked, its located on the cooling system somewhere at the top of the engine usually, take it out and check the resistance in boiling water and then as it cools or disconnect it and check the resistance as the engine gets hot on idle it should drop from 2000ohm to around 230ohm at 85degC. Its very cheap so you could just replace it anyway. The other thing you need to check are the lambda sensors. This site explains how to do this there are 2 on the V8 one on each exhaust coming off the engine http://www.justlambda.co.uk. I think when the engine is cold and idling the fuel injection mapping is default so only when you adjust the throttle position will the mapping need to change (probably need to check the throttle position sensor is working too). I don't know what type of ECU you have but there is loads of data on the Lucas 14CUX controller this site has loads of good stuff on the fuel injection system and fault finding. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/barnes_firsnorton/lr_efi/. If you cant do any of this take your car to a fuel injection specialist. How did you read the fault codes since they can only be read with textbook at a landrover dealer, normal OBD diagnostic equipment doesn't work on Landrovers??

Sorry I should just say all these sensors feed info to the fuel injection management system if for example the temperature sensor is saying the engine is cold when its hot or the lambda sensors are giving false data on the mixture it wont run anything like right. So they all have to work pretty close to spec to keep your engine running smooth. I'd hang fire with the injectors till you change the temperature sensor.

Lets hear back how your getting on
JJ

 

You need access a TESTbook buy a six pack and pack a twenty dollar bill in your pocket and try the local dealer around beer thirty. Ask the tech to to go into fault codes see if there is a pending code,Then have him reset basic settins and go into real time inputs into ecu from the various sensers. My guess is a pile of rust in fuel rail which wont show but pull it off and look at the screeen in injector #7 in front of the fuel presure reg +one up its probably plugged
scott

 

Andy, My bad. They did make 97 Disco I manuals. It has the Lucas GEMS OBD fuel management system which can be read by any OBD tester. You changed the filter, did a lot of rust come out of it ? Rust in the rail is possible. O2 sensors will not cause your problem. Temp sensor possible but not likely.

 

you wont see rust in the fuel filter, the pump is stainless as the neck as well tank being plastic the first place corrodable metal will meet water is the fuel rail ive replaced maybe 50 of these sometimes the injectors are salvagible but must be cleared of rust and rail replaced and tested with a 9 volt battery to see the pattern. Just attach the injectors to the new rail and connect the lines and jump the fuel pump relay then apply 9 volt battery to connectors on the injectors the presurized rail one at a time and watch the patterns look for a nice even cone dont use anything but a 9 volt battery becuase first you will burn out the injector and next you might cuase a undesirable as rover says "thermal event" with the spark of a 12 volt feed and adomized gas everywhere scott

 

You should check the mass air flow sensor..I had what sounds like the same problem with my 300zx

 

So,
Here's what it was.

A vacuum leak in the intake.

When the engine was cold, the computer compensated for the leanness, when it warmed up, the computer no longer did and although the engine would be within computer tolerance at idle but giving it any gas would just kill it. If nothing else, she has new injectors. Thanx y'all